Verizon Claims You Don't Need An Unlimited Data Plan

Megalith

Megalith

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If you think you know your own data habits better than anyone, think again. Verizon has gone on record with its new ad, which insists that nobody needs unlimited data. The revered cellular provider thinks it is being generous by recommending its 5GB plan, which offers “tons of data” and costs a modest $55. Funny enough, T-Mobile’s CEO took to Twitter and suggested that Verizon was going through some kind of mid-life crisis, tweeting that their Miata needed an oil change. (I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel about that, since an MX-5 RF is on my radar.)

"When you're on your phone 24/7, you probably think you need an unlimited data plan." Well, yes. I probably do. How else can I watch all those fine NFL games and YouTube videos featuring trapeze artists eating celery while dangling over the Kariba Dam? "Actually," counters the ad, "the majority of people pay for data they never use." Two out of three use less than 5GB, claims Verizon. Now why could this be? Is it because carriers are so astonishingly generous that their customers simply have no idea what to do with all that lovely data they've been given? Or could it be that too many people are so worried about their data plans running out that they behave in an unnaturally conservative manner? As far as Verizon's concerned, its new 5GB for $55 plan is exactly what you need. Presumably, the "you" referred to here is one of the 66 percent, rather than the other greedy, ungrateful 33-percenters.
 
If no one needs a unlimited data plan because 5 gigs is plenty then what's the harm in offering one? Money. Money. Money.
 
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cdabc123 said:
If no one needs a unlimited data plan because 5 gigs is plenty then what's the harm in offering one? Money. Money. Money.
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This probably also factors in people like my parents who barely use any data at all.

With AT&T continually raising their rates for those of us who still have unlimited, I'm 100% game for another unlimited option. If Verizon would offer one at a comparable price I'd have no problem jumping ship.
 
im one of those that does NOT need unlimited data. i have a 4GB plan which rolls over and at the end of every month i have 7.8 - 7.9GB left

LOL
 
Hey Verizon, I'd gladly pay $20 for 1GB. $55 is too high for a lowest plan.

My girlfriend pays $50 on sprint for 1gb right now off contract, I really need to get around to switching her LG G3 to someone else. I know this is kind of a thread hijack but help?
 
5gb? Irritates me they charge $20 for mandatory 2gb. My typical usage is 0.04gb. Plenty of free WiFi hot spots when I need one.
 
OpenSource said:
I thought businesses were supposed to give consumers what they want...not tell us what we need.
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No, businesses are supposed to make money. And as long as people keep buying their products, they will continue to do so. And because we 'need' their products, we are kind of pinned.
 
I'm one of those people that tries not to use my phone for anything unless I'm on wifi. It costs too much when you go over. Email and some web seems to eat my 5GB real quick. Apple/App Store updates (<100MB each) eat into it, too. I have to turn off a lot of apps using cell data because of lack of data.

Verizon is very much out of touch.
 
Hey verizon: fuck you -- if I paid for unlimited... it should, you know, unlimited. Not what you define as unlimited.
 
I'll admit I always thought, ignorantly, Miata's were kind of a joke, but I was looking at trading in my Dart for something newer I noticed Miata's won a bunch of awards for 2015-2016 and are all the rage now. a bit too small for me I think though. If I dont splurge I'm gonna end up on the new Civic. I love the new body and the reviews are pretty good.
 
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OpenSource said:
I thought businesses were supposed to give consumers what they want...not tell us what we need.
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Wrong country. In the US, food companies tell us what's healthy to eat, drug companies tell us what ails us, politicians tell us who will help us, government tells us how to raise our kids, and tech companies tell us what we're missing in life. Oh yeah, and everyone on the internet tells us how wrong our own opinions are.
 
The logic used here is so asinine, LOL. If people are paying for the plan regardless of how much data they actually use, how does that hurt Verizon's bottom line? Isn't that better for Verizon, since people are paying for this apparently crapload of data that they never use?
 
I'm convinced there isn't a single person at Verizon with kids. If the wifi on my wife's phone ever gets switched off accidentally, our kids can burn through 6GB in 2 weeks. I have months of data overages to prove 5GB is not enough.

More likely what is going on here is Verizon pretending at the befuddled grandparent, the one that hears you saying you have to go, but serves up a massive plate of food anyway.
 
They just want people to go over the 5GB and get overages. Most the new customers they get with this campaign will leave safety mode off.
 
cour·age
(kûr′ĭj, kŭr′-)n.
When you remove options from your end users and hope to force them into buying more expensive stuff from you.
Also see Apple strategy
 
People get mad at big business but they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do - find a way to maintain/increase profits. Up front it sucks, but you have to realize that these businesses are not just some company owned by a single individual or even a group, most often they have a responsibility to shareholders, which includes a shitload of people who are probably pissed about the change lol. If you have a 401k or other retirement plan then it probably includes you too, since most plans include stock in a multitude of companies. The more money those companies make, the better it is for your retirement. May not mean that much to some of you but for those of us who don't intend to work ourselves to the grave it's kind of a big deal.
 
Verizon is clueless. The other year I bought my father-in-law a smart phone to upgrade the flip phone he had. First off, since he had just paid his bill, they wouldn't just activate the new phone. They said I had to wait or pay again. When I got my new phone on Boost I just called them up and they switched me to the new phone.

Second, the girl tried to get me to stay on his current plan because it was "unlimited data" and they "don't have that plan any more". I said, "Yes but what good is unlimited data on a flip phone that you can't do anything with any way?"
 
Devilpup said:
People get mad at big business but they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do - find a way to maintain/increase profits. Up front it sucks, but you have to realize that these businesses are not just some company owned by a single individual or even a group, most often they have a responsibility to shareholders, which includes a shitload of people who are probably pissed about the change lol. If you have a 401k or other retirement plan then it probably includes you too, since most plans include stock in a multitude of companies. The more money those companies make, the better it is for your retirement. May not mean that much to some of you but for those of us who don't intend to work ourselves to the grave it's kind of a big deal.
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Companies have feelings too! Seriously, we all know the above, but over time their profit margin will most likely decrease making their original choices a moot point. Verizon Wireless may be reaching a point where they have respectable statistics that show a concernable number of potential and past customers running to smaller carriers for unlimited data. I only say this, since most companies usually avoid publicly grabbing that gun and proverbially shooting themselves in the foot in such a manner.
 
I use close to 20GB per month. That's why I'm on T-Mobile. Their initial unlimited plan didn't work for me and I found out later that you can actually pay for a plan that doesn't throttle you after using 5GB of data. I watch a lot of Netflix, Youtube, Amazon Video, and even Hulu stuff at work. Basically, on most days if I'm working I'm streaming. I've had my phone going, streaming "How the Universe Works" for 5 hours today alone.
 
Sitting right this minute waiting for my phone number to get ported from my Verizon M8 to my T-Mobile OP3T. I'm sick of their shit and paying nearly $300 a month for 3 lines.
 
rgMekanic said:
Sitting right this minute waiting for my phone number to get ported from my Verizon M8 to my T-Mobile OP3T. I'm sick of their shit and paying nearly $300 a month for 3 lines.
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That's another issue. Verizon's customer service blows goats and its expensive.
 
rgMekanic said:
Sitting right this minute waiting for my phone number to get ported from my Verizon M8 to my T-Mobile OP3T. I'm sick of their shit and paying nearly $300 a month for 3 lines.
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One of my neighbors are paying the same for a family package. That's just fucking insane and they are still on the plan. I pay 160 for 5 lines on tmobile. We could have paid 140 if I wasn't so lazy to switch us to the One plan with the free S7's during xmas/bf deals.
 
Why is cellular data so friggin' expensive still. Personally, I think all the cell providers working together to keep prices high so they can milk as much cash out of the public as possible. $55 for 5GB is total BS. Before everyone jumps in to tell us how much the equipment costs and how frequently it needs to be upgraded, take a look at their bottom line. Verizon is making so much profit it should be criminal! They all are making big money! Massive profits, massive executive bonuses, etc...
 
If you need more tha 5Gb, you are using your phone wrong. You should be using your Verizon MiFi for that data usage. Don't worry, They'll sell you one of those and a plan to go with your $55 plan
 
Comcast put a limit in my area last year of 1TB.
My data plan through verizon is 2GB.

I go over the Comcast cap every month by about 1.7TB
I turn off the data on my phone until I have to use it. Once I enable it I can burn through the 2GB in a matter of hours. So once I get done what I need I go back into the settings and disable the data.
I try to force myself to always use wifi when I can find one and when it is available.

Heavy user or not, 1TB is not enough for a household from comcast and only a couple of gigs on a phone for a single person is still not even close to enough for even a week.
 
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